Etsy Shop

I have decided to open up and share my new little etsy shop "TWIGS AND TWEETS". I started it mostly to keep my self sane from my daycare kids. When my daycare kids sleep I keep myself busy by sewing. I used to kill the time by watching t.v or wasting time on the internet. I decided to use what talent I have and see if I can put my mad sewing skills to work. I am not posting this because I expect any of my family or friends to purchase anything ( want to make that clear) but just a way of sharing what I am doing in my life at this time.


http://www.etsy.com/shop/twigsandtweets

Thanks again Vaylene for all your help on the banner!!!!

Results

Jake is doing AWESOME. He is picking up words like a sponge. Two weeks ago when his teachers had his evaluation they said he wasn't improving and was getting further behind on his speech development. Three weeks ago he called every number 2 and all colors are white and blue. We are happy to announce that. . . .

NOW HE CAN:
Count to 10!!!!
Say and name almost all of the colors
And the words just keep coming. I think his vocab has tripled in the last three weeks. His teachers called us and told us that he is a different kid. He came home from the doctor today (ruptured eardrum) and told me that dad washed the car. I think he has realized that when he communicates it is easier for him and us. He is really putting an effort into trying to say new words. :)

No More Dirty Diapers

Aiden is almost potty trained! Can you believe it! I still in shock. I thought potty training Jake was easy but gosh Aiden basically potty trained himself in two days. I had been sticking him on the potty and one day he peed in it and he has been going ever since. He is loving not having to wear diapers. BUT... he won't wear underwear-I'm not sure why,but every time I try to put some on he FREAKS OUT, so for now he is going easy breezy down there. I still have to buy diapers though-Jake is a bed wetter. It is so nice having one less dirty diaper to change!!!!

Trials

So an update on my blog is way past due.

Jake's teacher had a meeting with us regarding his speech progress. The good news is that he is progressing and learning new words, but he isn't caching up with his age group, which is making him fall further behind.

Jake has officially been diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech. His language is considered empty.

I have learned a little bit about apraxia to help me understand what Jake is going through. 1 in every 1000 children have apraxia. Basically what apraxia is.... is where the brain is has a hard time taking transporting the information from his brain to form words in his mouth. Children understand what is being said to them they just can't communicate at their normal age level.

When a normal kid hears a word about four times he can repeat it. Jake has to hear the word approx 400 times before he can repeat it. And it can't be in the same time frame. I can't just drill the word over and over or repeat it 400 times. . . it has to be within a time span for him to pick it up. Last week Matt and I were teaching him the color red. Every single day we drilled it into him. After a week we would say to him "this is the color red, now tell me what color is it"? Now a normal kid could just say red, but Jake has to take a few seconds and sort out all the pathways in his brain find the right word and then make his brain send it to his mouth. Some times it takes more than 15 seconds for him to repeat it but we are proud of him still the same. It is interesting to watch him because you I can tell he is thinking really hard, his lips want to say "blue" but he knows it isn't blue so he has to spend that extra time to get his mouth to say red. Kids with apraxia struggle to say words with 2 or more syllables. These kids know that they don't sound normal which makes them self conscious. Some kids get frustrated and feel disappointed that they choose not to speak. Also apraxia kids becomes overly stimulated when they are touched. Jake only gets this way when I wash his hair-thank goodness because I love when he want to cuddle with me. Although when he was a toddler he hated to cuddle.

I guess in a way I feel cheated because I don't get to hear those cute things that three year olds say. Most of our conversations are us trying to figure out what the heck he is trying to tell us. The other day we were driving in the car and Jake kept saying toast. "Toast, toes", ???? what he heck are you telling me kid. "No mom toast whoo whoo." OH GHOST. "ya toast mom."


"I am looking forward to the day
when I can hear my little boy tell me about his day,
what he dreams at night...
what makes him grins sometimes."


I know that we are born with different trials and this trail will pass. Jake is making progress and I am so proud of him for not giving up on me. He is smart, loving, a wonderful big brother and I love him so much.

I think things will get easier for me once Aiden is older and starts talking more. He can already say many things that Jake can't say. He talks more like a gremlin, slurring his words together. It is so cute.

Sorry if I put you to sleep:) This is what has been on my mind so I thought I would share it.

Santa 101

Note to self: unless child asks to go see Santa don't even bother

I have been prepping Jake to go see Santa. Every time I ask he would get all excited and say " YAAAAH".

So on Christmas eve day I was feeling guilty for not taking Jake to see Santa. He is almost 4 and really seems to understand this year.

So I take my boys to the mall and the line to see Santa isn't to terribly long. But Jake has to pee, so by time we got back Santa was gone for lunch. So I take my kids to get something to eat and then we go get back in the LONG LONG LINE to see Santa. We waited in line for about 45 minutes and not one child cried. The entire time Jake was off by himself looking at the gumball machines or the display of stickers. Then he would comeback to me and then wander off. The closer we got to Santa the farther back Jake would stay. When there was 2 people ahead of me Jake wouldn't come by me and then I realized that he was scared. OH and did I mention Aiden is crying to:) So I run and grab Jake and he is in full out Freak out PANIC mode. So he escapes my arms and it is now our turn to see Santa. Aiden is screaming because he knows whats next and I am thinking "ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I waited all this time someone is going to sit on Santa's lap and its not going to be me.

By the way Jake is still screaming in the back by the gumball machines and so Santa's elf went to grab him and I am sure everyone in the long line is just starring at my panicking children. I put Aiden on his lap, he turned into a wet noodle with arms stretched out and tears rolling down his cheek. Sorry no pictures this year. I didn't want to spend $18 on a terrible picture. Jake never made it within 10 feet of Santa. On the way home I was frustrated and said. I thought you wanted to see Santa. Here is his reply "NO RARRRRRR"

Christmas Stocking

For Jakes first Christmas I bought three Christmas stockings for our family. After we had Aiden I have looked and looked for a stocking for him that was the same size, colors etc. I couldn't find anything and so last year poor Aiden had to go without a stocking. So this year I decided to make one because I really wanted it to be the same style as the others. I am really please with how it turned out.

Deck

I am so excited that Jake is finally starting to really show improvement on his speech development. I noticed the improvement about three weeks ago which is when I started to watch a new boy in my daycare. So I really don't know if it is his preschool or the boy at my house that is contributing to motivate him. He has also starting doing a weird thing like when he says the word "what" he says "what t t t t".

Matt has been working like MAD on his deck. I keep telling him to just wait until spring but he really wants to get it done. You can see that it snowed this Saturday and he made him self a shelter from the snow. I think he is doing an amazing job.